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You'll want to apply 90 foot-pounds of torque to the wheels of your 2015 Honda Pilot. It's not recommended to use an impact gun to tighten lug nuts as it can lead to issues with accuracy in torque measurement. Over-tightening lug nuts can cause damage to the threads, brake rotors, wheel, or even break the lug stud. Conversely, not tightening them enough could result in the lug nuts coming loose, which could have disastrous consequences. While lug nuts are typically made of metal and treated to resist rust, they can still develop rust over time as their protective coatings wear off or due to neglect. Fortunately, lug nuts are durable and can withstand efforts to remove rust effectively while still securing your car's wheels in place.
In simple terms, the formula to calculate torque is force multiplied by the distance from the pivot point. Therefore, if you apply 45 pounds of force on a 2-foot bar, you will generate 90 foot-pounds of torque. This can be represented as T = F x A, which means 90 ft-lbs equals 45 lbs multiplied by 2 ft.
The recommended specification is 94 foot-pounds for tightening the wheel bolts, but I prefer to gently tighten them with a small electric impact wrench, then lower the vehicle and torque them to 100 foot-pounds based on my experience. Despite the common concern over torque specs, I have not encountered any issues such as loose wheels or warped brake rotors in my work as a professional technician on various vehicle models. While it is typically advised to perform a retorque after driving 100 miles, many people overlook this step. Personally, I skip this on my wife's car and she's fine because I take good care of it! Remember to use a reliable torque wrench or ask a 100-pound person to step on the tool in a criss-cross pattern for proper tightening.
To remove any bolts on your 2015 Honda Pilot, make sure to use a torque of 90 foot-pounds on the wheels. It's always a good idea to consult your manual to confirm the required specifications.